Civilians Seek Veterans` Benefits

A former radio show host in Vietnam, Chris Noel ran up $110,000 in hospital bills four years ago when treated for stress common among ex-GIs.

But while a victim, Noel was not a veteran. And the West Palm Beach woman has had to bear the brunt of treatment costs herself.

``A lot of women are very sick who served in Vietnam,`` Noel said. ``We were near the front lines and were fired upon. If I was a veteran I could`ve gotten government help, but I wasn`t.``

Noel, 44, is among the leaders of a nationwide organization, formed last month, that`s seeking to get some civilians who served in Vietnam included in veterans` health programs.

Most of these civilians are women -- an estimated 10,000 who served in the Red Cross and United Service Organizations (USO) in Vietnam.

``We`re really focused on two goals,`` said Joan Maiman, president of Civilian Vietnam Veterans and a former Red Cross hospital social worker in Vietnam.

``We`re trying to raise public awareness of the service by women in Vietnam, and also to provide assistance to those who have no place to turn.``

Maiman, a Chicago resident, said health problems afflicting women who served in Vietnam are similar to those of former combatants.

Some, like Noel, have had to overcome post-traumatic stress disorders. Others report having cancer, miscarriages or irregular menstrual periods that Maiman said may stem from exposure to Agent Orange, a defoliant widely used in Vietnam.

Maiman, 38, suffers from a severe form of acne she developed after returning from Vietnam. ``But my problems have been minimal compared to many,`` she said.

In Vietnam, women served mostly in medical, entertainment and recreational programs in support of combat forces. Noel, a former actress and beauty queen, hosted a U.S. Armed Forces Radio show called A Date With Chris.

Still, she strayed from behind the microphone frequently. Noel was aboard a helicopter that crashed in a rice paddy and another time came under sniper fire in Vietnam. Her husband, a former Green Beret officer, committed suicide not long after returning from the war.

``Women became the nurturers and supporters in Vietnam,`` Noel said. ``But a lot of people don`t even believe women were there.``

Now these civilians are trying to make their presence felt in Washington. An office has been opened: Civilian Vietnam Veterans, National Projects Office, Washington, D.C. 20069-2052.

And U.S. Rep. John Porter, R-Ill., will sponsor legislation in the next congressional session to include civilians who served in Vietnam in a government-sponsored study on the health effects of Agent Orange.

Uniformed civilians who carried Defense Department identification cards would qualify. They could also receive stress-related counseling at the government`s expense under the proposed legislation.

``We`re trying to get a budget estimate right now on the cost of the bill,`` said Peter Friedman, an aide to Porter. ``Obviously, there will be some expense. . .but it does seem like a pretty fair bill.``

Similar legislation sponsored by Sen. Allan Cranston, D-Calif., has failed the past two years. Given that, leaders of the organization are guarded in their optimism.

``I certainly see a lot of rhetoric changing in Congress with regard to us,`` Maiman said. ``But whether there will be more substantive action in this coming year, I don`t know.``

That uncertainty has led the organization to prepare a nationwide mailing campaign to individuals and charitable foundations to highlight its efforts and raise money.

Filming a documentary on women`s service in Vietnam is also being discussed by leaders.

``We have to let people know there is a group of forgotten veterans out there,`` said Marilyn Price, of Fairfax, Va., who is spearheading the direct mail campaign.

Traditional veterans` groups have also volunteered their support for the civilians. Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. has donated more than $2,500 to the civilian group`s fundraising effort. With 30,000 members, VOVW is among the largest organizations for those who served in Southeast Asia

Local Vietnam veterans` advocates also said they could endorse extending government benefits to women.

``I don`t know if we`d be that outspoken for their cause, but I think we`d be supportive of them,`` said Jose Torres, a social worker at Fort Lauderdale`s Vietnam Veterans` Outreach Center.

Dr. William Weitz, a psychologist at an outreach center in Lake Worth, said the federally sponsored centers could easily accommodate women whose Vietnam experiences left problems similar to those plaguing combat veterans.